Typewriting machine



1. A. SMITH.

TY'PEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, 12, 1918- Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDER'WOOD TYPE- WRI'IER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

' TYPEWRITING ISEACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

Application filed December 12, 1918. Serial No. 266,433.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Jesse A. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States. residing in Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewritlng Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collating devices, and is herein illustrated as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine or an Underwood bookkeeping machine. IVhere such machines are used for highly specialized systems of bookkeeping, means are highly desirable for obtaining practically automatically the proper registry between a ledger sheet and a statement sheet when inserting them vinto the machine.

In some systems, the statement sheet has been provided with an edge separated from the body of the sheet by perforations, to permit a statement sheet to be employed which is originally of the same width as the record or ledger sheet, and yet to enable the statement sheet to be easily severed along the line of perforations, so that it may be readily reduced in size to a convenient form for mailing. In the endeavor to avoid such expedients as that just described, end gages have been devised to enable the statement and ledger sheets to be adjusted separately, but such end gages usually proved awkward in use, inasmuch as the sheets had to be adjusted separately, thus requiring two sets of end gages which were independently operable.

According to the present invention, I have found it possible to avoid the use of separate end gages and yet provide a fixed edge or device to enable the typist to instantly adjust the statement sheet at the proper line; To do this, I employ a front collating table, one form of which is disclosed in the Corell Patent No. 1,262,310, dated April -9, 1918, and attach thereto an aligning edge against which the typist may align the top of a statement sheet by feeling, (i. e., without needing to study it), so that when ad usted the statement sheet and ledger sheet may be easily clamped into position, as by the usual feed-rolls. This aligning edge or plate may be adjustable to permit it. to be set for vanous heights of bill heads or statement-heads and for various widths of suchheads, the latter object advantageously, being accomplished by substituting one aligning edge for another, since the plates on which the edges are formed may be cheaply made. The aligning plate also forms part of a guide to direct the statement sheet back of the ledger sheet.

Other features and advantages will here mafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an Underwood typewriting or bookkeeping machlne carriage, showlng so much thereof as will effectively illustrate some of the uses of my invention.

F igure 2 is a side view of the same largely in sectlon.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic front view, showing the relationship of the record or ledger sheet and the statement sheet.

In the carria e of the Underwood typewriting or bookkeeping machine, the platen 1 is rotatably mounted in ends 2 and 3 of the shift frame, and is adapted to be turned on its axle 4 by the usual knobs 5 or the linespacing lever 6, by means of the usual connections. A record or ledger sheet 7, adapted to receive original impressions. of the types 7* (Figure 2) through the usual ribbon (not shown), may be inserted from the rear over the usual paper table 8 and gaged at writing position approximately by the wing scales 9, in which position it may be held by the projectib-le impaling or gaging pins 10, of which there is one illustrated at each side of the front collating table 11, Said table is mounted in the usual manner on brackets 12 supported by a cross bar 13, which in turn is mounted in brackets 14 fast to the ends of the platen-shift-frame.

The table 11 carries the aforementioned pins 10, which are'adapted to be withdrawn or projected by means of the usual handle 15, which is fast to a shaft 16 carrying pinions 18, so that by rotating the handle 15 the pinions 18 will rotate and project the pins 10, by driving downwardly racks 19, which are fast to slides 20, comprising cam openings 21 for moving the pins 1( The connections between the cam openings 21 and the pins 10 include a. bar 22 at each side of the machine on which the pin or pins on its side are mounted, said bar comprising a follower 23 riding in the cam slot 21, which slot is cut diagonally of its slide 20, with the result that the raising of the slide will withdraw the pins within the table 11, while the drawing down of the slide 20 will project the pins. The slide 20 slides in hollow casin 24 held by bolts 25 to the back of the body of the table 11. Usually, in adjusting a record or ledger sheet 7, the typist projects the pins 10 before insertlng the I sheet, so that when a sheet is approximately aligned by the scale plates 9, the sheet may be pushed rearwardly and impaled upon the pins by means of its usual openings 26.

To enable statement sheets to be repeatedly and accurately inserted, there is adjustably mounted on the table 11 a directrix tangential to the platen and comprlsing adjusting plate or alignlng plate 27 closely spaced with relation to 11, and comprising a straight upper edge 29, so that when the ledger sheet 7. is in position a statement sheet 28, together with an intervenlng carbon sheet 29*, may be inserted behind the ledger sheet, so that the statement sheet and the carbon sheet, being guided by the member 11 of the directrix, pass together downwardly in front of the platen behind the ledger sheet, usually to a position beyond the front feed-rolls 30 and also frequently beyond the rear feed-rolls 31, wh1ch at this time are held cast off by their usual castingoff handle 32. Even though the ledger sheet may conceal the edge of the adjusting plate 27, the typist can accurately and quickly adjust the statement sheet 28 by feeling the edge 29 with the tips of the fingers.

In order to enable the aligning plate 27 to be easily adjusted, it comprises flat extensions 33, which are adapted to lie against the face of the table 11, and which are provided with slots 34, through which the thumbscrews 35 may pass, and be threaded into the table to enable the plate 27 to be adjusted vertically. In order to make sure that the proper adjustment of the plate 27 is obtained, the flat extensions 33 may comprise bent-over ends 36 embracin the vertical edges 37 of the table 11. To enable the aligning plate 27 to be thus utilized, it is held outwardly from the face of the table 11 by means of brackets formed by bent-over end parts 38, which form connections between the extensions 33 and the body of the plate 27 and these brackets 38 may be utilized as edge gages. The brackets 38 and the extensions 33 together form arms extending from the ends of the plate 27. In adjusting the statement sheet 28, the typist may either utilize the aligning plate 27, which is adapted to fit the statement sheet closely at each end bracket 38 thereof, or may adjust the statement sheet against one end bracket 38 of the aligning plate 27. The

aligning plate 27 may lie close to the table 11 at its lower margin 39 and may be bent outwardly from said table at the upper margin 40, thus enabling the typist to insert her fingers slightly Within the opening between the top 40 and the table 11 to render 1t easy to adjust the statement sheet by feeling with the finger tips.

In the form of the mechanism herein d sclosed, there is provided only a single pin 10 on each side of the table 11, thus allowing a large portion of the surface of the table to be utilized for positioning the alignlng plate 27 up or down to accommodate various lengths of bill heads. When the proper alignment of a statement sheet 28 and ledger sheet 7- has been obtained, the typist may manipulate the usual handle 32 to cast on the feed-rolls 30 and 31, and then if necessary rotate the platen backwardly, or, if such backward rotation is not necessary, may begin to write at once upon the lines which stand at the printing point.

This structure is especia is desired to use statement sheets that are narrower than ledger sheets, this being often desirable in machines like the Underwood bookkeeping machines, inasmuch as the right-hand marginal column 41 of the ledger sheet adjacent the perforations 26 is often used for an old balance used in proving the accuracy of bookkeeping, and the corresponding left-hand marginal column 12 is,

often used for folio numbers or for identifying data, so that both the margins 41 and 42 may contain matter which it is not desired to have appear on the statement sheet 28 which goes to the customer. Thus, having the statement sheet narrower avoids the need for the perforated margins shown in the Kidder Patent No. 1,251,241, of December 25, 1917, and enables a perfectly smooth-' edged statement sheet to be sent to the customer, this being a desideratum from the point of view of attractiveness.

Variations may be resorted to .Within the scope of the invention, and portions of the im rovements may be used without others.

aving thus described my invention, I claim:

. 1. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, means to co-operate with said platen to feed work-sheets therearound, a paper-table extending upwardly and. rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen, and a plate positioned in front of said table, to space therefrom a work-sheet in feeding relation with said platen, to facilitate the insertion of a work-sheet between said first-mentioned Work-sheet and the table, and downward to the delivery side of the platen. I

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, devices for yieldably urging a work-sheet against said platen, a paper-table to receive the work-sheet from the platen, means tocast off said devices,

means whereby the work-sheet extending paper-table, and held in such position while said devices are cast off, and a guide supported between the work-sheet and the table, and spaced from the latter, to enable a second work-sheet to be inserted therebetween and passed between the first work-sheet and the platen, so that, upon release of the castofi' means, both of said work-sheets will be maintained in co-operativerelation with said plate-n, to be fed thereby.

3. n a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, means for temporarily holding a work-sheet in position relatively to the platen, an introductory directrix to guide a second work-sheet downwardly between the first-mentioned worksheet and the platen, said directrix comprising front and rear closely spaced plates, and

said front plate havin an edge to gage the top edge of the secon sheet, and means to adjust the position of the front plate with reference to the printing line to assist in gaging the second-mentioned work-sheet with reference to the printing line.

4. The combination with a platen, of a front paper table, a plate positioned in front of said tab-1e to hold a Work-sheet clear thereof to permit a second work-sheet to be inserted behind the plate and the first worksheet and to be guided thereby down past the front of the platen, and a side piece, between said plate and said table, forming an edge age for the second work-sheet.

5. The combination with a platen, of a front paper table, a plate positioned in front of said table to hold a work-sheet clear thereof to permit a second work-sheet to be inserted behind the plate and the first worksheet and to be guided thereby down past the front of the platen, a device carried by the table, to assist in positioning said-first-mentioned Work-sheet, and means for adjusting said plate so that the second-mentioned sheet may be properly positioned relatively to the platen by bringing its upper edge into coincidence with the upper edge of said plate.

6. The combination with a platen, of a front paper table, a plate positioned in front of said table to hold a work-sheet clear thereof to permit a second work-sheet to be inserted behind the plate and the first worksheet and to be guided thereby down past the frontof the platen, a gaging device forming part of the table, means for adjusting said plate. to enable its edge to be used as an end-gage to determine the proper position of said second work-sheet, and a side piece forming an edge gage for the second Work-sheet.

7 The combination with a platen, of a front paper table, a plate positioned in front of said table to hold a work-sheet clear thereof to permit a second work-sheet to be inserted behind the plate and the first work sheet and to be guided thereby down past the front of the platen, and aligning. pins mounted on the table for movement either to ineffective or to effective position to cooperate with the first work-sheet.

8. The combination with a platen, of a front paper table, a plate positioned in front of said table to hold a work-sheet clear thereof to permit a second work-sheet to be inserted behind the plate and the first worksheet and to be guided thereby down past the front of the platen, aligning pins mounted on the table for movement either to ineffective or to effective position to co-operate with the first work-sheet, and means for adjusting said plate to enable it to be used for an end-gage relatively to the pins.

9. The combination with a platen, of sheet-holding devices for detaining a worksheet in aligned position, and in proper linespace position with reference to the printing line, including a support in front of and above the platen, and means for holding said sheet spaced from said support, to enable a smaller sheet and an'intervening carbon to be inserted behind said first worksheet, and positioned with reference to the writin line.

10. n a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a front paper table, of feed rolls adapted to be cast off from said platen to permit a work-sheet to be. inserted from the rear and passed up around the platen to said paper table, and a plate mounted upon said table in front of which said work-sheet is adapted to pass, so that a second Work-sheet may be inserted behind said plate and be guided down in front of the platen by said first work-sheet, and the two work-sheets may be held to the platen by the feed rolls.

11. The combination with a platen, of a support in front of and above said platen, means to co-operate with the edges of a work-sheet, whereby the same may be around the platen to said paper table, a

'plate mounted upon said table in front of which said work-sheet is adapted to. pass,

so that a second work-sheet may be. inserted behind said plate and be guideddown in front of the platen by said first work-sheet,

and the two work-sheets may be held to the platen by the feed rolls, a pair of pins adapted to be projected from said table to align the first work-sheet, the upper edge of said plate forming an end-gage for the second work-sheet to enable the two worksheets to be gaged relatively to each other, means for throwing the feed rolls against the platen, and means for withdrawing said pins to permit the two work-sheets to be advanced together by the feed rolls.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a front paper table, of a plate, and a bracket fast to said plate to enable it to be adjustably fastened to said table and to be held clear of the surface thereof to enable a work-sheet to be inserted behind the plate to be guided down in front of the platen by a work-sheet in front of the plate.

14:. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platenand a front paper table, of a plate, arms extending from said plate adapted to lie against the front of said table and hold the plate clear of the surface of the table, said arms adapted to be utilized as edge gages, and adjusting devices adapted to pass through openings in said arms to enable the plate to be adjusted on the table.

15. In a typewriting machine the combination with a revoluble platen and a front paper table, of a plate, arms extending from said plate adapted to lie against the front of said table and hold the plate clear of the surface of the table, each arm comprising a slot, and a thumb screw passing through said slot and threaded into the table to adjustably lock the plate in position.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a front paper table, of a plate, arms extending from said plate adapted to lie against the front of said table and hold the plate clear of the surface of the table, adjusting devices passing through openings in said arms toenable the plate to be adjustably secured to the table, and pins mounted on said table to be projected therefrom to enable worksheets to be aligned thereon, or to be retracted to ineffective position.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a sup port in front of and above the platen, means near the edges of said support, to assist in gaging the position of a work-sheet extend- -1ng from said platen, and to retain said work-sheet in such gaged position, and-adeviceon said support, comprising a plate, spaced therefrom, and extending partly thereacross, having down-turned end portions engaging said support, whereby a sheet narrower than the first may be inserted between the same and the platen, the down-turned end portions of said 'plate serving to guide the narrower sheet between the means for gaging and retaining the firstmentioned sheet.

18. In a typewriting machine, a revoluble platen, a paper-table to receive a worksheet from the platen, a narrow plate extending partially across said table, and having down-turned ends to serve as edgeguides for a second work-sheet, and to space the plate from the table to hold the first work-sheet clear of the latter, and to permit insertion of the second work-sheet be hind the first, and means for positioning the first work-sheet, and maintaining it in such position durin the insertion of the second sheet, includlng pins movable into position to engage perforations in the margins of the first work-sheet.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a paper-table to receive a work-sheet therefrom, of a plate in front of said table, to space said work-sheet therefrom, to enable the insertion of a second work-sheet thereunder, the upper edge of said plate being spaced from said table suficiently to permit the upper edge of the second work-sheet to be brought into alignment with the upper edge of said plate, without release of the upper edge of the second work-sheet from the fingers of the operator, and means whereby said plate is secured to said table, including a down-turned end of said plate.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a front paper table therefor, of a plate having one edge adapted to serve as an end-gage, means for adjustably locking said plate to said table and to hold it clear of the surface thereof, said plate comprising a curved body approaching the table near the platen, but spaced from the table near its top to enable the typists fingers to gage sheetsagainst its upper edge, and a vertical portion of said plate adapted to form an edge gage for a work-sheet gaged against the upper edge of the plate, said plate comprising a turned-over end adapted to overlap the edge of the table to preserve its alignment with the table.

21. In a typewriting machine, the com-.

bination with a platen, of a front paper table for receiving a work-sheet therefrom, a narrow plate in front of said table comprising down-turned ends for guiding a second work-sheet within the edges of the first worksheet, and for spacing the plate from said table to hold the first work-sheet clear thereof and thereby to permit the insertion of the second work-sheet behind the first, means for adjusting said plate upon said table, and a gaging device for the first sheet mounted upon said table, and adapted to be rendered either efi'ective or ineffective.

22. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, means for temporarily holding a work-sheet in position relatively to the platen, and an introductory directrix to guide a second work-sheet back of the first and down between the same vand the platen at the front of the latter,

said directrix comprising a front plate having a straight upper edge forming'a gage work-sheet may be brought into alignment 10 by the fingers of the operator, to gage the second sheet with reference to the printing line, and also comprising a rear plate closely spaced with reference to the front plate.

JESSE A. B. SMITH. Witnesses:

EDITH B. LIBBEY, JENNIE P. THORNE. 

